Restaurant plan for Kaiteriteri revived

Press, 9 May 1985, Page 20

Restaurant plan for Kaiteriteri revived

Nelson reporter

The Waimea County Council’s approval of an application for a restaurant and takeaway bar on private land at Kaiteriteri beach, near Motueka, has resurrected interest in a similar venture proposed for the beach 10 years ago. Last week the council, at a town planning meeting, approved unanimously the application of a Kaiteriteri resident, Mrs Margaret Wratt, to convert a small museum and outdoor garden courtyard into a small restaurant and takeaway bar. The restaurant would have seating for about 30.

She proposed opening the restaurant from the Christmas holiday period through to the end of March from 7 a.m. until midnight daily. It would also be open during the May and August school holidays daily, but for the remainder of the year would open only from Friday evening to Sunday evening.

In support of her application, Mrs Wratt said that Kaiteriteri had a population of about 200 but during the Christmas holidays the population increased to near 10,000 with campers and day visitors. The one shop, leased by the Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve Board, sold food but did not sell seafood and chips and did not have a restaurant.

Long queues formed at the shop and at the small area outside the shop. The board, through its chairman, Mr Bruce Rowling, objected to the application. The grounds for objection were traffic flow problems, waste disposal (litter and effluent), cooking smells and water limitations. It also felt that the takeaway bar would attract a rowdy element which could create noise nuisances.

Its main objection was that the beach was such an important outdoor recreation area that any commercial development should be

restricted to whatever might be reasonably essential.

Mrs Wratt said the board wanted to “maintain a monopoly for the shop which it leases and whose rental is based upon turnover.” The board’s attitude ignored the patent demand which existed from local people and from visitors, she said.

The decision has caused Mr Rowling to revive interest in plans drawn 10 years ago, and still in his possession, for a restaurant as a second storey to the present shop. Mr Rowling said recently that the restaurant would give magnificent views over the bay and would be an attraction for visitors.

Asked why the board had not proceeded with the proposal before this, Mr Rowling said the improvement of the camping area, sewerage and water reticulation, and electrification of the camping ground had been costly and were the first priorities. It had been put to a meeting but nothing came of it, he said. Mr Rowling said he was sure that other board members would be behind such a scheme. An ex-officio board member, the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Nelson, Mr Gavin Muirhead, cannot see the plans reaching fruition for some time. Money was required for sewage treatment and water reticulation improvement and this had priority, he said. “I would have to caution them to see that they service their loans and debts before embarking on another building proposal,” he said.

Under the Reserves Act, the board can borrow money only from the Lands and Survey Department. It is unlikely to be able to borrow more for a restaurant if Mr Muirhead does not give his blessing. He, in the final analysis, controls the purse strings in such projects.